Children's home run by First Blue Healthcare Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 1 Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2021 and holds a leadership and management qualification at level 5.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/08/2021 Full Good 21/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have lived in the home for several years. They continue to make good progress because they know that staff care about them and understand their needs. Children benefit from firm boundaries and rules, which gives them a strong sense of security. They say that staff listen to them and support them to access the services that they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with appropriate healthcare services and attend all appointments. Marked improvements are evident in children’s self-care skills and appearance. Staff encourage children to access therapeutic services available to them through the organisation. This supports children with their emotional health and well-being. An effective medication management system ensures that children receive their prescribed medication in accordance with their doctor’s instruction.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for children and support them to do well in education. Where children have been excluded from college, staff advocate for their return to full-time education. This ensures that children have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are fully involved in day-to-day decisions in the home. Children contribute their views through regular meetings and one-to-one sessions with staff. Appropriate requests are responded to, which enhances children’s sense of ownership and being listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped and supported with transition plans. One child will be moving on from the home in the new year. The manager has arranged planning meetings with the placing authority to ensure that the move progresses smoothly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to keep in touch with their families. As a result, children continue to form strong bonds with people who are important to them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have a good understanding of the children in their care and their individual vulnerabilities. There is a clear procedure for reporting and managing safeguarding concerns. Staff have a good understanding of this process and of their responsibilities.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s risk assessments and vulnerabilities are well known by staff and detailed in their individual plans and risk assessments. Staff are proactive in identifying risks to children and review these risks regularly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 4 Staff use de-escalation techniques and only use physical restraint as a last resort. There is good evaluation of incidents, along with reflective work with children and staff that is overseen by the manager.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing, staff follow clear procedures to ensure that they are kept safe. Strategy meetings take place when necessary to consider how children can be best protected. The local police missing-from-care coordinator visits the home to explore the reasons why a child has gone missing. This extra support helps to bring in additional strategies to prevent children going missing again.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children engage in key-work sessions with staff. These sessions support children to think about important issues, including inappropriate relationships, internet safety and going missing from care. This supports children’s safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children live in a physically safe environment. There are measures in place to ensure that the home is free of hazards. Regular fire drills are carried out to ensure that children know what they need to do in the event of an emergency.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic and committed to the home. He is ambitious for staff, children and the functioning of the home. Staff speak very positively about the manager and say that he is supportive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the strengths and areas for development in the team and addresses shortfalls through supervision sessions and team meetings. He provides staff with regular supervision that enables them to reflect on their practice. Team meetings are well attended, and staff confidently engage in discussions about the service and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training records show that staff access a wide range of training courses which are centred on the children’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. A number of staff are suitably qualified in residential childcare, and arrangements are in place to ensure that unqualified staff can gain the relevant childcare qualification within the appropriate time frame. Consequently, staff have the confidence and knowledge to provide the care that children need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have formed positive relationships with a range of agencies, including the police, teachers and social workers. This collaborative approach ensures that the diverse needs of children are fully met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 5

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: First Blue Healthcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2515613 7 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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